Design and Construction
The Fox is a monohull of solid fiberglass construction with wood trim, riding on a fixed shoal-draft wing keel with a transom-hung rudder controlled by tiller. Its nearly plumb stem and slightly angled transom give it the compact, purposeful profile Hake developed from the beamy hull he first created in 1979 with the Slipper Deckhouse 17, later refined with fancier oval ports and other gear. Period reviews found the Fox relatively good-looking, with springy sheer, pronounced tumblehome, molded bulwarks, and neat stainless fittings. The 34.6 percent ballast ratio and 177.9 displacement-to-length figure place it firmly in the light, trailerable camp rather than among heavier cruisers.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a fractional sloop rig or, optionally, an unstayed catboat rig with a tall mast; for a while it was available with either a sloop or a very tall cat rig, the cat’s bridge clearance reaching 33 feet against 8 feet less for the sloop. The rotating freestanding carbon-fiber mast stands 28 feet 6 inches and weighs only 33 pounds, secured by an internal sliding aluminum tube coupling the upper mast to a deck bearing. An optional bowsprit extends the sailplan. The builder claimed the vessel takes less than five minutes to rig at a boat ramp, suiting its trailer-sailer role. On the water, test sailors found her shallow fixed keel hurts her ability to pinch upwind against rivals in light breeze.
Accommodations
Below, the Fox sleeps four: a double V-berth in the bow cabin, with two straight settee berths in the main cabin. The head sits in the bow cabin, centered aft under the V-berth. The galley is split just aft of the bow cabin, with a stove to port and sink to starboard. Reviewers noted the interior is relatively spacious for the modest length overall, with a space index highest among its competitors. The self-bailing cockpit is deep and comfortable for two.
Ownership and Trailering
As an outboard-powered trailer sailer, the Fox keeps systems simple and the 1.58-foot draft suits ramp retrieval. The light carbon rig and quick-rig claim speak to a boat meant for casual, repeated launch-and-go use rather than liveaboard cruising.
The Verdict
The Seaward Fox is a thoughtfully evolved trailer sailer that trades upwind bite for ramp-friendly shoal draft and a surprisingly roomy cabin for its length. Its freestanding carbon rig and quick setup suit the casual cruiser, while the beamy Hake hull gives more interior than the size suggests.
Pros
- Sleeps four in a 19-foot 9-inch hull with best-in-class space index among competitors
- Freestanding carbon-fiber mast rigs quickly and weighs only 33 pounds
- Shoal wing keel and 1.58-foot draft simplify trailering and ramp launch
Cons
- Shallow fixed keel limits pointing, notably in light air
- Cat-rig bridge clearance of 33 feet limits some fixed-clearance routes
- Outboard power and small size restrict extended cruising range
